Eintracht Frankfurt has thrown in the towel early in the Champions League. Despite leading 2:1, the team under interim coach Dennis Schmitt lost 2:3 to FK Qarabag Agdam in Baku. With only four points, elimination is sealed.
Eintracht Frankfurt remains winless in 2026 and has been eliminated early from the Champions League. The team under interim coach Dennis Schmitt, in the role for just three days, lost 2:3 (1:1) to FK Qarabag Agdam in Baku on Wednesday evening. Before around 30,000 spectators, Can Uzun (10th minute) and Fares Chaibi (78th, penalty) scored for the visitors. Camilo Duran (4th and 80th minutes) and Bahlul Mustafazada (90+4) secured the win for the hosts.
The final group game against Tottenham Hotspur next Wednesday at 21:00 has no relevance now, as the four-point deficit is too large. Eintracht fans were not allowed to travel: UEFA imposed a fan ban after incidents in the December match against FC Barcelona, where objects were thrown, fireworks set off, and property damage occurred.
"This can't be, that we concede two goals so late again. We concede three goals every game. Then it's simply hard to win games," Ansgar Knauff said on DAZN. "It's just very, very frustrating." Sporting director Markus Krösche added: "You can't really do much in such a short time. It's important that we get the balance better."
The contrast on the benches was stark: Schmitt faced Qarabag coach Gurban Gurbanov with 18 years in charge. Eintracht's defense was asleep early when Duran scored the 1:0 after a rebound from Leandro Andrade's shot. Uzun quickly equalized by winning the ball in the box and slotting left into the corner. Goalkeeper Kauã Santos, who retained trust, later saved shots from Duran and Joni Montiel.
After halftime, the game turned: A penalty for Chaibi put Frankfurt ahead, but Duran and Mustafazada turned it around. Injuries plagued the visitors, including a hit to Nathaniel Brown's knee and a bloody nose for Rasmus Kristensen. Jonathan Burkardt is injured and out, Arnaud Kalimuendo not registered. The successor to ex-coach Dino Toppmöller remains open; Marco Rose is a hot candidate.
